Dear Friend,

Through partnership between the Kurdistan Israel Friendship Association and the Heartland Initiative, a delegation of up to 15 Kurdish-European young professionals will come to Israel for a 10-day mission, a first of its kind for Israel. The expected date of the mission April 12-22, 2023.

The objectives of this first Kurdish-European delegation to Israel is 3-fold. 

1: To open up the door and demonstrate to the global Kurdish population that Israel a reliable partner and friend.

 2: To introduce, connect and build relationships between the delegates and the Kurdish populations here in Israel. Whether they are public officials, business people or hi tech executives. It is important that when the delegates return home, that this program helped facilitate future cooperation’s. 

3: To expand the current Israel-Kurdistan alliance into a trilateral group to include the Kurdish populations in Europe. 

The mission will include the following activities: 

Participation in the Kurdish celebration of Seharane, the ancient Jewish Kurdish festival following the end of Passover to celebrate the coming of the spring season. 

Visiting with public officials from the Israel-Kurdish Jewish Communities in Jerusalem, the Negev, and in the North. Meeting with public senior officials from both Knesset and local cities, municipalities. 

Meeting with leading Israeli Kurdish business and high tech individuals. 

Touring of historical and religious sites. Pollical briefings from leading heads of NGO’s such as Dr. Mordechei Kedar, Brigadier General Amir Avivi, Attorney Nitsana Darshon-Leithner of Shurat Hadin, and more. 

Shabbat experience in the mystical city of Tzfat. 

Costs: 

The costs, per delegate for 10 days is €4,900. As a young professional, and to those who require, scholarships are available up to 90% of the costs of the program. 

Please note: Flight costs are the sole responsibility of the participant and is not included in any scholarship.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected]
Yonathan Ben Yisrael & Gedaliah Blum
Heartland Initiative